How to Clean Blood on a Hard Surface
These safety practices shall be followed when an employee is cleaning a non-regulated biological material (blood) spill. Non-regulated spills involve amounts of waste material that can be fully absorbed by an applied medium without secreting the material when compacted.
In the event of an accident or injury spilling small amounts of blood on a hard surface, the following procedures will be followed by employees of Sonoma State University dispatched to clean and reconstitute the contaminated area.
- Block off the area until cleanup and disinfection is complete. No visitors or unprotected staff members should be able to access the area.
- At a minimum, put on disposable gloves. Increase PPE requirements to eye protection, face shield, and overgarments if splash concerns warrant additional precautions. Most circumstances won’t require additional PPE beyond disposable gloves.
- Wipe up the spill as much as possible with paper towel or other absorbent material.
- Gently apply a commercial bleach solution onto all contaminated areas.
- Let bleach solution remain on contaminated area for 20 minutes and then wipe up remaining bleach solution.
- Any recoverable or non-disposable cleaning materials such as mops, brushes and rags need to be disinfected by saturating with a bleach solution (10%) and then allowed to air dry.
- Remove gloves and place in a garbage bag with all other soiled cleaning materials.
- Double bag and securely tie up garbage bags, and discard in conventional trash. The absorbent products utilized to clean a non-regulated spill are not biohazardous per the definition provided in the California Medical Waste Management Act Section 117700 (d).
- Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water.
Code of Safe Practices are prepared by SSU Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety.